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Snoop Dogg was speaking at the Ordsall Community Centre in Salford, Greater Manchester, where he met young volunteers who gave up four hours of their time to paint the centre in exchange for a ticket to the rap star's gig.

The singer was refused a visa to enter the UK in 2007 after a series of run-ins with the police.

But the ban was eventually lifted, allowing the bad boy of West Coast American rap to play at Glastonbury last week.

He said: ''One of the important things about me coming back into the UK was that I wanted to become real community active to show people that I really do care about the problems that are going on over here.

''This is like a treat, to be able to do something constructive for your community, it feels good to be a part of it.''

Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand made a surprise appearance at the community centre.

Snoop Dogg introduced him to the crowd as ''my nephew Rio'' before the rapper played football with the teenage volunteers.

Ferdinand had to watch from the sidelines due to his injury, but seemed more than happy to have met his idol.

He said: ''I am a huge Snoop fan so if I put in a bit of hard work, a bit of painting, I might get a ticket.''

Snoop, a former member of notorious LA gang The Crips, also revealed he recorded a song with Damon Albarn's Gorillaz on Wednesday night for his new album.

He said he was a big fan of the British rap scene, and in particular Tinnie Tempah.

''The British rap scene has always been strong, if you feel good people are going to enjoy it,'' he said.

''You got to know one thing about Snoop Dogg, if you feel good it must be good for you.''

Snoop Dogg is currently number one in the UK charts with the Katy Perry collaboration, California Gurls.

But the rap star did not even know he had hit the top spot.

''I've not bothered to look. Tell it like it is and not like it was,'' he said.

Volunteers at the centre received a free ticket to a Snoop Dogg gig tonight at the Manchester Apollo through the Orange RockCorps scheme.